Machine for feeding articles to carding and other machines



V. PUC. MACHINE FOR FEEDING ARTICLES T0 CABDING AND OTHER MACHINES.1,436,822.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 3, 1920.

Patented Nov. 28, 1922.

4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

V. PUC. MACHINE FOR FEEDING ARTICLES 10' CARDIN-G AND OTHER MACHINES.APPLICATION FILED FEB: 3, I920.

Patented Nov. 28, 1922.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

wuewtoz 731 1114/ Q/CUWW V. PUC. MACHINE FOR FEEDING ARTICLES-T0 CARDINGAND OTHER MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB- 3. I920.

. Patented N0v. 28,1922

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

ch, P08

V. PUC.

LES T0 CARDING AND OTHER MACHINES. APPLICATION FI LED FEB. 3, 2920.

MACHINE FOR FEEDING ARTIC Patented Nov. 28, 1922.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4- Patented Nov. 28, W22.

Ul lll llhhlll swaths Lassa r Fl.

VOJ'II IGH PUG, 0F PRAGUE-VINOHEtADY, BOHEll/IIA.

MACHINE FOR FEEDING ARTICLES '10 GARDENS: AND OTHER MIACHINES.

Application filed February 3, 1920. Serial No. 355,977.

(GRANTED UNDER THE PROVISIUNS OF THE ACT 0 MARCH 3,. 1921, 41 STAT. In.1313.)

To aZZw/wmit may concern: 0

Be it known that l, VoJ'rhcH PUG, a citizen of the Republic ofCzecho-Slovakia, residing at Prague-Vinohrady, in Bohemia, have inventedcertain new and useful 1m 'provements in Machines for Feeding Articlesto Carding and Other Machines (for which 1 have filed applications inAustria, filed Aug 1, 1913, patented July 10, 191 1, No. 65,a73 inFrance, filed July 25, 191%, patented June 17,1915, No. 476,951), ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to machines for feeding articles to carding andother machines, and particularly to machines for feeding members of snapfasteners or press buttons to machines for fastening them to cards.

Heretofore machines for this purpose have been constructed to apply studand socket members of the fasteners to oppositesides of perforatedcards, the studs being passed through the perforations in the cards andmade to engage the socket members by suitably constructed punches. lhetwo sets of fastener members have heretofore been supplied to the cardsthrough a plurality of troughs or channels, there being as many troughsor channels as there are fasteners to be applied in a row to a singlecard. These supply troughs or channels have been positioned eitherdirectly above the path of a slide, or else discharge into conveyerswhich carry the articles directly into the range of the punches.

According to my invention, the feed mechanism is materially simplified;ln carrying out my invention, the articles are con veyed in regularorder through a trough or feed channel to a carrier which receives apredetermined number of articles and then moves to a position over atable where it deposits the articles in front of a reciprocating slidewhich is so shaped asto pick up the articles, arrange them in thedesired order and shape, and convey them to the cards to which they areto be attached. The mechanism is automatic in operation, first receivingthe proper number of articles from the feed trough, then carrying themto the table and at the same time cutting off the supply from thetrough, then depositing the articles on the table, and then return ingto the feed trough, opening it, and receivinganother supply ofvarticles. The action of the slide is entirely automatic,-as it picks upthe articles from the table, arranges them in proper order and shape,and carries them to thecard in proper relation tothe punches.

1 have shown my invention as applied to a machine for feeding the socketmember of snap buttons, but it must be understood that some features ofmy invention may be embodied in machines for feeding and applying otherarticles. a i 1 1n the accompanying drawings Figure 1 shows a sideelevation of so much of a machine for feeding and applying snap buttonsto cards as is necessary to illustrate my invention.

. Figure 2 is a top plan view of the mechanism shown in Figure 1. T 5

Figure 3 is a perspective View, showing the mechanism in position todeposit the articles on the table in front of the slide.

, Figure 4 shows a section on the line 4 -3t of Figure 2 and illustrateshow the buttons are heldin the carrier and how they may be dischargedtherefrom onto the table;

Figure 5 is a plan view showing the articles engaged by the slide andcarried for.-

ward to a card and in position to be acted on by punches.

Figures 6 to 10, inclusive, show a modified form of the invention, inwhichthe carrier is made to reciprocate in a straight line instead ofbeing swung on a pivot in the manner indicated in Figures 1 to 5.

Figure 6 is a plan view of the mechanism. F gure 7 1s a detail view 111SGCtlOIlOIl the line Z7 of Figure 6.

Figure 8 shows an end elevation of the mechanism. a i a Figure 9 isadetail view in section on the line 99 of Figure 6. i

the line 1010 of Figure 6.

Referring to Figures 1 to 5, inclusive, the

table to which the snap buttons are delivered higure 10 is a detail viewin section on the teeth fully engage the buttons, the

latter will be held in the desired arrangement. In the particular formof the slide shown, the teeth are adapted to engage two sets of buttonsand to cause them to be arranged in two semi-circles, but thisarrangement is not essential.

As shown in Figure 4, the teeth 6 are relatively thin, providing a space:0 beneath them, the arrangement being such that the bodies of thebuttons X enter the space 00 While the upper parts, caps or socketportions of the buttons enter the recesses 2'). The articles operatedupon are indicated at X, in this instancebeing socket members of snapbuttons of the usual kind. The card to which the buttons are applied isindicated at Y. Figure 2 shows the slide in its retrac-ted position, butready to move forward and engage the row of buttons deposited on thetable by the carrier, presently to be described. Figure 5 shows theslide moved forward with the buttons properly arranged in the recessesZ) at the front end and with the slide and buttons in position over acard and with the buttons ready to be acted 011 by the punches toconnect the socket members with the stud members of the buttons.

C indicates a feed trough or channel by which the buttons are conveyedfrom a machine which supplies them in regular order and in properarrangement so that they may be delivered in a row with their capsuppermost, in the manner indicated in Figure 2. The carrier whichtransfers the buttons from the feed trough to the table is indicated,generally, by the letter D. The carrier D comprises a bar E pivotallyconnected with a support F at f. The pivot for the bar is arranged at anangle of l5 with ref erence to the horizontal plane of the table A. Thelower portion of the bar E projects beyond the pivot and is connectedwith a rod G, by means of which the carrier is swung about the axis ofthe pivot in such manner that it will move from the position shown inFigure 2, in line with the feed trough, to the position shown in Figure3, across the operating table. The bar E has secured to it a bar H whichis undercut at it (Fig. 4) to receive a portion of the body of thebuttons X. The bar E has also secured to it a bar K formed with a seriesof teeth is with lntervening recesses is. There is a space M between theinn r edges of the bars H and K, and in this space operates a gate orholder L, which as shown by dotted lines in Figure t engages the buttonsand prevents them from dropping out of the carrier. The gate is carriedby two arms Z secured to a rod Z supported in a bifurcated frame Zsecured to the bar H. A spring a on the rod Z has a projection n whichbears on the gate and tends to hold it in its lower position asindicated by dotted lines (Fig.

holds it open so that buttons may pass from 4). When in its lowermostposition the gate prevents the buttons from leaving the carrier. The rocZ carries on one end an arm 0 which is adapted to engage with an arm 9of a bracket P secured to the table A. Q indicates a gate for closingthe mouth of the feed trough when the carrier is moved away from it. Thegate has an arm 9 which is guided by a bracket 97 and is normallypressed inwards by a spring The gate is formed with an arm 9 which isadapted to engage the bar H. \Vhen the carrier is in position in linewith the feed trough, the bar H engages the arm 9 of the gate and thetrough into the carrier, but as soon as the carrier leaves the trough,the gate closes the mouth of the trough so that no buttons may passtherefrom. When the gate is open,

buttons pass from the feed trough into the space M in the carrier, thelowermost button resting against the stop m. At this time the gate L islowered as indicated by dotted lines in Figure 4. lVhen the carrier isfilled or has received the proper number of buttons, it is swung fromthe position shown in Figure 2 to that shown by full lines in Fig ure 3,the arm 0 being engaged by the bracket P and the gate L is lifted. Thebuttons then pass from the carrier onto the table and are disposed in arow transversely across the table as shown. The carrier is returned tothe feed trough and the slide moves forward from the position shown inFigure 2 to that shown in Figure 5, operating in the manner beforedescribed. When the carrier comes opposite the feed trough it engagesthe arm g of the gate, which is thus opened and the proper number ofbuttons pass from the feed trough into the car-v rier. and the operationthen proceeds in the manner before explained.

It will thus be seen that I have very materially simplified themechanism for carrying buttons from a feed trough to a posi- 11.0 tionon a table where they are operated upon by other mechanism, havingdispensed with i the multiplicity of feed troughs heretofore used, asingle device being employed to transfer the desired number of articlesfrom a source of supply to a point of delivery. The results aboveexplained may be obtained in modified forms of machines. I have shown inFigs. 6 to 10., inclusive,mechanism in which the carrier is reciprocatedin a straight line instead of being swung on an inclined pivot.

Portions of a suitable supporting frame are inclined at R, and on adownwardly inclined projecting part r of the standard 7 12-5 of theframe, the feed trough S is supported. This trough, as shown, comprisesa bar 5' inclined from its upper end downwards and secured to the framepart r and two parallel bars 8 which are spaced apart and secured to thebar .9 by screwsv 8 passing through collars or washers 8 In this way aguide channel is produced for the buttons, which are supplied in anysuitable way to the top of the trough and pass down the channel Zindicated in Figure 7.

T indicates a carrier which is mounted to reciprocate in a straight lineand in a horizontal plane across the lower end of the feed trough.

The carrier is supported by the standard W rising from the frame E. Thisstandard also supports a work table U on which reciprocates a slide Usimilar in form and operation to that shown and described in con nectionwith Figures 1 to 5, inclusive. The carrier comprises a lower bar V andan upper bar WV. The lower bar V is supported by the standard r and isadapted to reciprocate in guides therein. It is actuated by a rod 1)suitably connected at '0 with it. The bar TV is connected to the bar Vby screws to which extend through holes in the bar W and screw into thebar V. Springs w between the heads of the screws and the top of the barW yieldingly hold the latter bar in the position shown in Figure 9against the collars or washers o The upper bar W is formed with a seriesof teeth 10 with recesses 10 between them to receive the buttons fromthe feed trough S. The upper bar W is also formed with a gate 9 whichserves to close the mouth of the channel or feed trough when the carrieris moved to its outermost position. At the proper time the upper bar Wis raised to permit the buttons to slide over the lower bar V (Fig. 9)onto the table U (Fig. 8). In order to do this I may employ themechanism shown. 1 indicates a rock shaft which may be actuated by anysuitable mechanism 2, and on the shaft is mounted an arm 3, to which issecured by screws t a plate 5 which projects beyond the lower end of thearm. The plate may be adjusted longitudinally on the arm by the screwswhich pass through slots 6 in the arm and screw into the plate. Thelower end of the plate is formed with a finger 7, which engages a roller8 carried in a frame 9 secured to the upper bar WV. The arm 3 with theplate 5 slides on the shaft 1 and moves coincidentally with the carrier,but is adapted to rock at the proper time with the shaft when the latteris actuated.

Figure 6 shows by dotted lines the position of the mechanism when thecarrier has reached the limit of its outward movement and by full linesthe position of the carrier when it has just commenced its inwardmovement. When the carrier is at the limit of its outward movement, thegate 9 closes the mouth of the feed trough. As soon as the carriercommences to move inward, the mouth of the feed trough is opened and thebuttons are delivered one by one to the recesses Q03 in the upperbar W.The carrier continues its inward movement until the last recess 10 isopposite the lower end of the feed trough and by this time all therecesses are filled. The carrier is then moved outward and when itreaches the limit of its outward movement, theshaft l is rocked and theupper bar is lifted (Fig. 9), and all the buttons are simultaneouslydeposited on the table. Immediately after this, the bar lV is loweredand the carrier returns to its initial position, while doing so takingup a new supply of buttons.

It will thus be understood that my improvements may be embodied inmachines differing somewhat in construction and operation. T haveillustrated one machine in which the carrier is pivoted to move about aninclined axis, and another machine in which the carrier is mounted toreciprocate in a straight line. Other modifications might beillustrated, but the machines shown embody the principle of my inventionand are the best ways now known to me of using it.

I claim as my invention 2- 1. A machine for feeding articles from asource of supply to other machines, comprising a. recessed carrier whichreceives a plurali'ty of articles from the source of supply, means forfeeding the articles to the carrier, means for holding the articles inthe carrier, means for moving the carrier from the source of supply tothe point of delivery, and means operated by the movement of the carrierfor releasing the articles from the carrier.

2. A machine for feeding articles from a source of supply to othermachines, comprising a recessed carrier which receives a plurality ofarticles from the source of supply, means for feeding the articles tothe carrier, means for holding the articles in the carrier, means forswinging the carrier about an inclined axis from the source of supply tothe point of delivery, and means for releasing the articles from thecarrier.

3. A machine for feeding button members from a source of supply to othermachines, comprising a recessed carrier which receives a plurality ofsaid members one after an other from the source of supply and holds themin a straight row along the carrier, means for feeding said members tothe carrier, means for swinging said carrier about an external axis to ahorizontal position at the point of delivery, and means for releas, ingthe members from the carrier.

4. A. machine for feeding buttons from a source of supply to othermachines, comprising a recessed carrier having a channel or space intowhich the buttons pass from the source of supply and provided withrecesses through which the buttons are delivered, a gate for holding thebuttons in the carrier,

a gate for closing the source of supply, means for moving the carrierfrom the source of supply to the point of delivery, means for openingthe gate of the carrier to release the buttons, and means operated bythe carrier for opening and closing the mouth of the source of buttonsupply.

5. A machine for feeding articles from a source of supply to othermachines, comprising a recessed carrier which receives a plurality ofbuttons from the source of supply, means for holding the buttons in thecarrier, means for moving the carrier from the source of supply to thepoint of delivery, means for releasing the articles from the carrier,and a recessed slide which engages the articles thus delivered, arrangesthem in proper order, and carries them to other mechanism.

6. A machine for feeding articles from a source of supply to othermachines, comprising a carrier havin a space to receive the articles andtransversely arranged recesses through which articles are delivered, aspring actuated gate for holding the articles in the carrier, means formoving the carrier from the source of supply to the point of delivermeans for opening the gate to deliver the articles from the carrier, andmeans operated by the carrier for opening and clos; ing the mouth of thesource of supply.

I. A machlne for feeding articles from a source of supply to othermachines, comprising an inclined carrier into which the arti cles feedfrom the source of supply by their own weight, one after another, meansfor swinging the carrier from the source of supcles from the carrier.

8. A machine for feeding articles from a source of supply to othermachinescompris ing an inclined carrier into which the articles feedfrom the source or" supply by their own weight one after another, meansfor holding the articles in the carrier. means for swinging the carrierfrom the source of supply to a position at the point of delivery inWhich the articles are arranged in a horizontal row, and means forreleasing the articles from the machine.

9. A machine for feeding articles from a source of supply to othermachines comprising an inclined carrier into which a predeterminednumber of articles are fed from the source of supply, one after another,means for holding the articles in said carrier, means for swinging thecarrier from the source of supply to the point of delivery, and meansfor releasing the articles simultaneously in.

a horizontal row.

10. A machine for feeding articles from a source of supply to othermachines comprising a carrier mounted in an inclined position andreceiving articles one after another from a source of supply, means forholding the articles in the carrier, means for swinging the carrierabout an external axis to a horizontal position at the point ofdelivery, and means for releasing the articles simul-' taneously.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name. v

VOJTEOH PUG.

